The sporting calendar has a beautiful rhythm to it, with annual events occurring at the same time each year, as well as the less frequent highlights such as the Ryder Cup, every two years, or the various quadrennial extravaganzas like the football World Cup or Olympic Games. As one sport’s championships comes to an end, another’s often begins and for lovers of a wide range of sports that means plenty to savour every week of the year, and, in fact, almost every day.
For those that follow US events, autumn is synonymous with the start of the NFL campaign, typically early in September. But it is also, especially a little later in the season, the time of year that baseball’s World Series takes place. As the weather is getting colder and the days shorter – at least in the UK and certain parts of America – those that love baseball at least have the showpiece series of the sport to look forward to.
Dodgers v Yankees
Even for people who do not follow baseball at all, the names of the New York Yankees and the LA Dodgers are ones that mean something. The Yankees are by far the most successful franchise in the history of MLB, boasting a massive 27 titles. They are also, of course, a huge brand, with their famous logo sure to be spotted on caps and other merchandise all over the world.
The LA Dodgers have not been quite as successful but even so with eight World series victories, only four franchises have been more fruitful. The Dodgers are also a well-known, global brand, but are perhaps most famous for their relocation from Brooklyn to their current west-coast home.
Dodgers Originally from New York
With the Yankees based in the Bronx, this has historically been a “derby” fixture. Whilst the Dodgers moved out of New York back in 1958, to become LA’s first Major League Baseball team, the rivalry retains plenty of spice. Competition between the two was particularly fierce in the 1940s and 1950s.
The Yankees were incredibly strong at the time and appeared in the World Series 17 times between 1936 and 1958. They also made the showpiece game five years in a row from 1960 onwards but it was mainly the decade between 1947 and 1956 inclusive when things really heated up between them and the Dodgers.
The 12th Dodgers vs Yankees World Series
In that 10-year period the local rivals, as they were back then, played each other six times in the World Series. That might have been a little boring for some but it certainly helped ferment the rivalry. Indeed, looking at the wider history of the decisive series in MLB, this clash is the most common World Series match-up, having occurred a massive 12 times (including the whole, two-centred history of the Dodgers).
All three of the most frequently occurring pairings feature the Yankees, a real testament to how successful they have been, but the second – between them and the San Francisco Giants – is well back, having been played just seven times. What this all means, really though, is that the 2024 World Series was hotly anticipated, especially as it had been 15 long years – certainly by their own crazy standards – since the Yankees had made it down to the final two.
Dodgers: A Dynasty in the Making?
In the modern era no team has dominated MLB in the way that the Yankees had for so much of their history. However, we have seen a number of teams perform incredibly well over a period of five years or so. The Dodgers could now be in a position where they are looking to establish themselves as one of the best groups of relatively recent times.
Somewhat amazingly, it has been around a quarter of a century since anyone has even managed to win back-to-back World Series titles. The last to do so was the Yankees, who actually completed a hat-trick from 1998 onwards. This means that if the Dodgers can retain their title, they will be on their way to greatness.
That is all a long way off for now, but already, having won the 2020 World Series (they beat Tampa Bay Rays 4-2) and also made the big game in 2018 and 2017, they have demonstrated that they are doing something right behind the scenes. Their performances in 2024 have been superb, and they capped that off with a brilliant, dominant win in the showpiece series, confirming their eighth title by proving their grit in what proved to be the final game.
How Did the 2024 World Series Play Out?
THE LOS ANGELES DODGERS ARE THE 2024 WORLD SERIES CHAMPIONS! 🏆 pic.twitter.com/arGli1wJi1
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) October 31, 2024
Both teams headed into the series, which began on the 25th of October 2024, having topped their divisions with relative ease. The Dodgers had the best record of all the teams in the regular season, having won 98 times, but in the Division Series game against San Diego they were pushed hard and won 3-2, whereas the Yankees eased to a 3-1 win over Kansas City.
The New York side also had things slightly easier in the Championship Series, prevailing 4-1 over Cleveland, whilst the Dodgers again lost two games, winning 4-2 against the Mets. The stage was well set and many predicted the 120th World Series could be a classic between two old rivals.
Dodgers Win 4-1
In the end it wasn’t to be, with the Dodgers proving too strong and winning 4-1, having swept to a 3-0 lead and seeming set for a whitewash. LA had the advantage of hosting the first two games and the opener was a low-scoring affair tied at 2-2 after nine innings. In the extra innings we saw a little piece of World Series history, with the Dodgers triumphing thanks to the first walk-off Grand Slam ever hit, by Freddie Freeman.
Game 2 saw Freeman hit another home run to help his side win 4-2 and go 2-0 up. Games 3, 4 and 5 would all be at Yankee Stadium, so in theory at least, New York had the chance to hit back. However, Freeman was at it again, striking another homer to guide the Dodgers to a second consecutive 4-2 win.
Game 4 brought a necessary win for the hosts as they triumphed 11-4 to keep the series alive. Freeman, however, created yet more history, by again hitting a home run, meaning he had now struck homers in a record six consecutive World Series games (including in his previous appearance in 2021 for the Atlanta Braves).
The hopes of the Yankees fans were short-lived, however, as the Dodgers got the job done in a thrilling fifth game. Trailing 5-0 they somehow fought back, with a little help from some defensive errors, scoring five unanswered runs in the fifth innings. They pinched it 7-6 in the end to secure a 4-1 victory, with Freman named the series MVP.